Netherlands-based global health technology company, Royal Philips has announced a multi-year partnership with US science and technology company, Merck to develop digital solutions for personalised fertility treatment.

WHY IT MATTERS

According to the National Health Service, roughly one in seven couples in the UK will have trouble conceiving.

The platform will leverage advanced informatics and mobile, AI-enabled ultrasound diagnostics, to better inform patients and clinicians about the choice and timing of fertility treatment to maximise the chances of conception.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Investors have gained an increased interest for femtech and fertility apps recently as remote monitoring models have picked up and proved invaluable during the pandemic.

An example of this growth in interest is the UK-based digital fertility employee benefits company Fertifa achieved the closing of its £1 million financing round last year.

Virtual fertility clinic Apricity launched an online fertility predictor tool designed to predict a woman's chances of conceiving naturally based on information input on their lifestyle choices. 

ON THE RECORD

Jeroen Tas, chief innovation and strategy officer at Royal Philips said: “At Philips we are leading digital transformation in healthcare, with a portfolio that includes solutions for both professionals and consumers to support parents-to-be through pregnancy and the first years of their baby’s life.

“The journey for aspiring parents is sometimes a difficult one, and by collaborating with Merck, a world leader in fertility treatment, we aim to develop integrated digital solutions that improve the patient experience and can ultimately have a positive impact on health outcomes. This partnership builds on our expertise in maternal and fetal monitoring, our Pregnancy+ and Baby+ consumer engagement apps, our leading ultrasound solutions and our HealthSuite Cloud/AI platform.”

Michelangelo Canzoneri, global head of digital and data, Healthcare at Merck said: “We believe that the future of IVF will be unlocked through digital health technologies that empower professionals and patients to be better connected."

Jan Kirsten, head of global business franchise for fertility at Merck added: “With Philips, we have a partner that shares our belief in the potential of digital health to improve the patient experience, bringing a wealth of experience in connected care to our offering. Together, this collaboration will push our two companies to think beyond tomorrow and discover new solutions that can empower people to realise their dreams of parenthood."